A mobile terminal includes a display unit configured to display an image and comprising an OLED pixel module emitting light and a light non-transmitting layer formed therebelow; a fingerprint recognition sensor configured to recognize a fingerprint by receiving, when the light emitted from the OLED pixel module is reflected by a finger, the reflected light; a sensor insertion space formed by perforating a part of the light non-transmitting layer, the fingerprint recognition sensor being inserted into the sensor insertion space; and a force sensor disposed at a side surface of the fingerprint recognition sensor and configured to measure a magnitude of pressure applied to the force sensor.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A mobile terminal comprising: a display unit configured to display an image and comprising an OLED pixel module emitting light and a light non-transmitting layer formed therebelow; a fingerprint recognition sensor configured to recognize a fingerprint by receiving, when the light emitted from the OLED pixel module is reflected from a finger, the reflected light, the fingerprint recognition sensor including an upper surface facing the display unit, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and a side surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the side surface being oriented not parallel to the display unit; a sensor insertion space formed by perforating a part of the light non-transmitting layer, the fingerprint recognition sensor being inserted into the sensor insertion space; and a force sensor disposed to face and surround the side surface of the fingerprint recognition sensor in a first plane, wherein the force sensor is configured to measure pressure applied to the force sensor in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the force sensor comprises: a flexible printed circuit board having a shape transformable by the applied pressure; and strain gauges attached to each of upper and lower surfaces of the flexible printed circuit board, and wherein the force sensor is configured to measure the applied pressure through change in resistance of the strain gauges.
2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint recognition sensor is configured to optically communicate with the OLED pixel module to receive the reflected light via the OLED pixel.
3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor insertion space is configured to optically communicate with the OLED pixel module.
4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint recognition sensor contacts a light transmitting layer of the display unit, the light transmitting layer including the OLED pixel module.
5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the force sensor and the fingerprint recognition sensor are placed in a common plane.
6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the force sensor comprises a cushion member to absorb impact.
7. The mobile terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the cushion member is disposed on one of upper and lower surfaces of the force sensor.
8. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the strain gauges are attached to corresponding positions of the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible printed circuit board.
9. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising a haptic module configured to generate haptic effect when the pressure is applied to the force sensor.
10. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising a haptic module configured to generate haptic effect when the fingerprint recognition sensor receives the fingerprint.
11. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint recognition sensor is activated to receive the reflected light when the pressure is applied to the force sensor.
12. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein a stiffener is attached to a lower surface of the fingerprint recognition sensor, which is exposed outside the display unit.
13. The mobile terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the stiffener has a predetermined width and is formed along the edges of the fingerprint recognition sensor.
14. The mobile terminal according to claim 13 , wherein the stiffener has a ring shape provided with a hole formed through a center thereof.
15. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the force sensor is disposed to surround an entire perimeter of the fingerprint recognition sensor, and is configured to measure pressure applied to respective edges of the fingerprint recognition sensor.
16. The mobile terminal according to claim 15 , wherein the display unit is configured to, if a difference between the pressure applied to the respective edges of the force sensor exceeds a predetermined error range, display an indicator representing correction of an application direction of the pressure.
17. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the light non-transmitting layer comprises at least one of rubber, urethane, copper or graphite.
18. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint recognition sensor is disposed below the OLED pixel module.
19. A mobile terminal comprising: a display unit configured to display an image and comprising an OLED pixel module emitting light and a light non-transmitting layer formed therebelow; a fingerprint recognition sensor configured to recognize a fingerprint by receiving, when the light emitted from the OLED pixel module is reflected from a finger, the reflected light, the fingerprint recognition sensor including an upper surface facing the display unit, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and a side surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the side surface being oriented not parallel to the display unit; a sensor insertion space formed by perforating a part of the light non-transmitting layer, the fingerprint recognition sensor being inserted into the sensor insertion space; and a force sensor comprising a channel facing and surrounding the side surface of the fingerprint recognition sensor in a first plane, wherein the force sensor is configured to measure pressure applied to the force sensor in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the force sensor comprises: a flexible printed circuit board having a shape transformable by the applied pressure; and strain gauges attached to each of upper and lower surfaces of the flexible printed circuit board, and wherein the force sensor is configured to measure the applied pressure through change in resistance of the strain gauges.
20. The mobile terminal according to claim 19 , wherein the force sensor encloses the fingerprint recognition sensor by surrounding an entire perimeter of the fingerprint recognition sensor.
21. The mobile terminal according to claim 19 , wherein the light non-transmitting layer comprises at least one of rubber, urethane, copper or graphite.
22. The mobile terminal according to claim 19 , wherein the fingerprint recognition sensor is disposed below the OLED pixel module.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 1, 2019
July 7, 2020
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